Hungry Ghosts Fest Begins, 25th July 2006

The Gates of Hell “opened” freeing the spirits of the underworld to roam the earth for one month. Good news to the denizens of the underworld who are getting a 60-day holiday. Bad news for us, mortals (especially the night birds)!

The Chinese seventh month is known as the ghost month because the Chinese believe that the Gates of Hell are opened then to release the spirits of the underworld to roam on earth. But who can be sure? No mortal knows this for a fact.

In China, the Ghost Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. Historically, families offer newly harvested grain to departed ancestors on this day, which also coincides with the Buddhist Ullambana (Deliverance) Festival and the Ghost Festival.

Since these traditions honours the spirits of the departed, the seventh lunar month is known as Ghost Month. During this time, the “good brethren” (ghosts) return to earth to feast on offerings made by the living. Over time, the Ullambana Festival and Ghost Festival have melded together. Spirits without descendants to care for them are not forgotten. They are summoned during the Ghost Festival to enjoy the warmth of life among the living.

Generally, the Chinese observe the Hungry Ghost Festival from the folkloric rather than religious aspect. This year, the first seventh lunar month is from July 25 to Aug 23 while the second falls from Aug 24 to Sept 21. It has been 38 years since the last double seven months occurred in 1968. There were also two Ghost Months in 1938 and 1949, which is a lapse of 11 years and 19 years. The Chinese Ghost Month is regarded as a new year for the spirits of the netherworld. This year, the spirits get a 60-day holiday instead of the annual 30-day.

In the northern Chinese states, the Chinese pray to appease the King of Ghosts so that wandering ghosts do not disturb the living. They can pray on any day of the seventh lunar month but some dialectic groups (particularly the Hokkiens) observe the 15th day of the month for the ritual while the Cantonese carry out prayers on the 14th day. Foods are laid out for the wandering ghosts and paper monies are burnt as offerings.

Taoists do not regard the seventh month as the ghost month as it is a folk belief rather than a religious one. However, they celebrate the 15th day of the seventh month, known as Zhong Yuan Jie (literally translated as Middle Beginning Festival). On this day, they worship the Earth Official (deity) in the belief that if they confess their sins, they will be absolved from them.

Taoists celebrate three yuan (special days) – the 15th day of the first, seventh and 10th lunar months. On different yuan days, Taoists worship different deities to get blessings from them.

The Chinese also believe that the seventh month is inauspicious for the opening of outlets, moving house, open house celebrations, renovations or weddings.

This month, especially, the fear of ghosts can be great to some, particularly at nightfall. The thought of lurking shadows can be unnerving. Television stations have a field day screening horror movies during this time.

The Hungry Ghost Festival has its origins in Buddhism. However, the belief about “the opening of Hell Gate” is not associated at all to Buddhism.

The Chinese Buddhists celebrate Yu Lan Festival on the 15th day of the seventh month. Yu Lan is a Sanskrit word which means “salvation.” Themes of filial piety and salvation are found in the Yu Lan Festival and the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Ven Hui Xian relates the legend of Moginlin (or Mulian) who saved his mother from Hades. Moginlin, a disciple of Buddha, learnt that his mother’s ghost was suffering in Hell. As she did terrible things when she alive, she became a hungry ghost.

Her son took pity on her and wanted to save her.

Today, the seventh month is a time to practise filial piety with puja (prayers) and to give dana (a Sanskrit and Pali word meaning generosity or giving) so as to transfer merits to the dearly departed. It is also a month to cultivate good morals.

So to Everyone, Please be careful...